by Lila Kane
My mind whirled with the unknown. I had no idea what he was talking about, but it was our future. Our life together. Holidays and family and kids even, which I still couldn’t wrap my mind around.
“You look nervous.”
“I am.”
He walked around the counter. “Are you hungry?”
“Too nervous.”
His kiss connected with my cheek. “Then let’s take care of that.”
“Finn.”
He grinned. “That’s not what I meant, but we’ll save that for later.”
My cheeks reddened. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
His fingers kneaded the back of my neck, tangling in my hair. “Should we sit?”
“No. You’re not telling me something and now I’m getting even more nervous.”
“Don’t.” He reached abruptly into his jacket pocket. “Now, remember you already said yes.”
“What?”
He opened the small box to expose an engagement ring.
“Finn…what’s this?”
“I think the word you’re looking for is yes.”
“No—I mean, not no. This is a different ring—it’s not—”
It wasn’t the one he’d given me last week at the cabin. It looked simpler but older. More traditional. Beautiful. The one he’d originally given me had been taken by John, and I had no idea where it was now.
“It was my mother’s,” he explained, pulling it out of the box. “And the one I wanted to give you originally, but I didn’t have enough time. And I wanted to talk with Jake first since…older brother and all.”
I wondered if Jake minded. Wondered if it was something he wanted to give to the woman he might marry someday.
“He wanted you to have it,” Finn said. “I already talked with him. And Mom, too. They both think it’s perfect for you.”
“For us,” I murmured. “What about the other one?”
He shrugged off the question. “I said I’d deal with it. It’s taken care of. So, stop keeping me suspense.”
I laughed, nervous and giddy. “Yes. Again.”
He smiled, kissing me before he slid the ring onto my finger. “Now, that is what it’s supposed to look like. The other one was just temporary.”
The ring sparkled just slightly and fit perfectly. “It’s beautiful.”
“So are you. Wine?”
Laughing again, I said, “You just want to lavish me with gifts and get me drunk.”
His eyes smoldered. “I want a lot more from you right now but I’m willing to let you eat first.”
I shivered, the heat in his voice enough to make me forget dinner, the wine—even Tracy.
“I really think I should thank you properly first,” I told him as he returned to the kitchen.
He glanced over his shoulder, angling his head. “Oh yeah?”
I reached for the top button of my blouse and undid it. His eyes followed my movements, hungry and focused, which just turned me on even more.
I continued with the buttons until my shirt came loose. “Enjoying the show?”
“Is viewer participation encouraged?”
Grinning, I slid down the zipper on my skirt and stepped out of it. “Only after I’m completely naked.”
He walked around the counter to see me fully, his eyes roaming the length of my legs, the swell of my breasts, and appreciating every other inch of me. “This is one of the best thank you’s I’ve gotten in a long time.”
“And I’m not even finished yet.”
When I undid the latch on my bra, he took another step closer. “Charlotte,” he breathed.
“Almost there,” I murmured.
I let my bra drop to the floor. Finn’s eyes didn’t waver. They locked on mine with so much heat, I almost melted to the floor.
“Hurry,” he said.
I bent to pull off my panties, joining them with my discarded bra. I held out my hand, letting the diamonds of the ring sparkle. “Does it turn you on that I’m wearing nothing but the ring?”
With a growl, he pounced, snatching me in his arms, mouth hot on my neck. “You haven’t stopped turning me on since you walked into my office tonight.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck. “Then do something about it.”
“I am,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to mine and making good on his promise.
